Halina began in 2020, during the year the world held its breath.
While everything outside felt uncertain and suspended, I found comfort in something small: melting wax, blending scented oils, and pouring them into jars right in our living room. It was a slow, quiet ritual. My kind of therapy at a time when I needed softness and tiny pieces of joy at a very dark time.
I didn’t think much of it at first. It wasn’t supposed to be a business—just a thing I did to feel grounded.
But then Halina grew.
And it grew fast.
From me melting wax on the stove and pouring candles in our tiny living room, I was able to build a studio beside our garage, all in just a little over a year. We started selling at malls. We got press features here and there. We shipped out thousands of candles across the Philippines and even a few across the world. We worked with brands, ran pop-ups, fulfilled back-to-back orders, and sold out more than once. It was overwhelming in the best way.
Halina was a success story.
And I didn’t see it coming.
Sadly, as quickly as we lit up, I started burning out.
To be completely honest, there was this moment (possibly, a slow accumulation of moments) where I felt like I couldn’t keep up. I was tired. Not just physically, but soul-deep tired. And it wasn't because I didn’t love what I was doing. I did. So, so much. But just like any other millennial, I was also in my mid-20s, trying to figure out who I was, what I wanted, and what kind of life I wanted to build outside of work.
If you recognize this place, I want you to be my friend!
The pressure to be something and to keep growing was loud. And I started wondering if I was just doing things because I was supposed to, not because I still wanted to.
So, I stepped back. Radio silence.
For the past few years, I gave myself space to not produce. To explore, fall apart a little, try other things, and let myself be curious again. I went to grad school. I returned to writing—my first love, the one that shaped me before candles ever did. I got married (and made my own candle centerpieces!). I moved into a new home. I traveled. I became comfortable with uncertainty and discovered parts of myself that I have now come to understand; and love.
But even as Halina rested, I never truly stopped.
Finished getting ready early on my wedding. I went downstairs to arrange the candles myself :)
I still kept my own inventory at home. I still made small batches when friends or longtime customers messaged me with a quiet, “Hey, can I order?” And I still lit candles every day, because I never stopped loving them. In fact, I just burned through my staple work candle.
Now you might be wondering, "What changed?"
I think the answer is: me.
Right now, I’m in a steadier place, more self-assured than I've ever been. I no longer crave the rush of being out of breath. I no longer equate success with speed.
More importantly, I remember why I started Halina in the first place—not to chase scale, but to make something meaningful for myself and for others. Something that glows quietly but intentionally.
So yes, Halina is back. We're back.
Now this isn't a grand rebrand or a full product drop (not yet, anyway 😉). But it’s one that’s done with care and clarity. With the same love and thoughtfulness that began with just a curious me in a quiet room, in the middle of a global standstill.
And if you're still here, reading this—thank you.
Whether you’ve been a longtime supporter or you just stumbled upon this little corner of the internet, I’m so grateful you’re here.
Let’s take things slow again.
Let’s fall back in love with simple comforts.
And here’s to being gentle with what we carry.
